Way Forward
Systemic racial discrimination extends beyond any expression of individual hatred... It results from bias in multiple systems and institutions of public policy, which separately and together perpetuate and reinforce barriers to equality... All of us need to call out and openly condemn all messages – especially political messages or discourses – which disseminate ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, or which incite racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance"
Implementation
Ensure timely and effective implementation, at all levels, of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the outcome document of the 2009 Durban Review Conference and the 2011 Political Declaration on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the DDPA, together with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the Agenda towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality and other commitments made during their follow-up processes.
Agenda towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality
During its 47th session, held from 21 June to 14 July 2021, the Human Rights Council adopted entitled “Promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers through transformative change for racial justice and equality”. In the resolution, the Council took note with appreciation of the and the annex thereto entitled “Four-point Agenda towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality”.
In its , the Human Right Council also decided to establish an international independent expert mechanism, comprising three experts with law enforcement and human rights expertise, “in order to further transformative change for racial justice and equality in the context of law enforcement globally, especially where relating, to the legacies of colonialism and the Transatlantic slave trade in enslaved Africans, and to investigate governments’ responses to peaceful anti-racism protests and all violations of international human rights law and to contribute to accountability and redress for victims.”
In the towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calls upon States and the Human Rights Council to:
- STEP UP: Stop denying and start dismantling
- PURSUE JUSTICE: End impunity and build trust
- LISTEN UP: People of African descent must be heard
- REDRESS: Confront past legacies, take special measures and deliver reparatory justice
Dialogue
To achieve reconciliation and healing, it is important to discuss ways to honour the memory of the victims of past tragedies, offer apologies, and create a societal dialogue around the pressing requirement of justice for victims of human rights violations resulting from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
Justice
The Durban Declaration reaffirms that victims of human rights violations resulting from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, especially in the light of their vulnerable situation socially, culturally and economically, should be assured of having access to justice, including legal assistance where appropriate, and effective and appropriate protection and remedies, including the right to seek just and adequate reparation or satisfaction for any damage suffered as a result of such discrimination, as enshrined in numerous international and regional human rights instruments.
Education
It is essential to promote education that includes in national school curricula the accurate account of the legacies of the past including enslavement and colonialism, their devastating impact as well as linkages to present day manifestations of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance as along with the true account of history of Africa prior to colonialism and enslavement, and the important contributions of Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent, indigenous peoples, minorities, migrants and refugees to modern societies.?
National action plans
The Durban Programme of Action recommends to states to adopt national action plans to promote diversity, equality, equity, social justice, equality of opportunity and the participation of all. A national action plan against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance should be broad in scope and comprehensive. This means it should also deal with the past. National action plans could be also good frameworks for national truth and reconciliation processes.
Cooperation of governments and UN entities towards raising awareness
Enhanced cooperation of governments and UN entities is promptly needed to ensure timely development of effective educational materials and awareness raising campaigns, endeavouring to educate the public about victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descents, indigenous peoples, minorities, their history and culture, their contributions and the importance of building an inclusive society, while respecting the human rights and identity of all victims.
2030 Agenda and the International Decade for People of African descent – a reinforcing framework
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2015-2030) commenced the same year as the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024). Both provide a mutually reinforcing framework, which can assist in overcoming the historically-rooted systemic and structural discrimination against people of African descent around the world.
The International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) provides an important framework for taking action on structural issues of access to justice, racial profiling, recognition of people of African descent and the deep-seated economic and development deficits, which affect them. The year 2021 also marks the mid-point of the International Decade for People of African Descent of which the High Commissioner for Human Rights is the Coordinator.